Tips For Buying A Horse Article

Tips for Buying a Horse

All types of people buy horses for al sorts of reasons. From parents buying their first horse for their daughter’s birthday, right through to the racing trainer buying a yearling at the magic millions. They all have their reasons, and their individual reasons and expertise.

I will try to stick to beginners and hopefully help them get the right horse for them or their daughter. Or whoever they are getting it for.

First you will need to know what level the riders ability is at. It is not a good idea to get a racehorse straight of the track that only knows stop and flat out, if you are buying for a beginner.

Don’t get me wrong, we have brought some of them, even been given some, and they have turned out to be great horses that have gone on to compete at state level. That didn‘t happen straight away, and the kids where not beginners. They needed to reteach the horse how to walk, and that was after
a few weeks of doing nothing, just to let anything that may have been in their systems to clean out.

If the person getting the horse has not the time or ability to bring the horse on then it is not the way to go. It would be false economy to save a few bucks up front and spend big bucks getting the horse retrained.

Don’t get pressured into a horse because you have just decided that you need a horse by a certain date. There is no such thing as the buy of the century. There are literally thousands of horses available at any one time, so if you are not sure about the horse you have looked at, then do not rush in.

For your first horse I would suggest that you buy locally.

For your first horse I would suggest that you take someone with you who has some experience with horses. If you do not know anyone then might I suggest going to the local pony club and speak to one of the instructors or members. They will all have children that they have purchased a horse for, and in my experience they are generally only to willing to help. And lets face it, your child will probably end up there anyway as it’s a great way for kids to learn to ride, learn some horsemanship and with other kids that have the same passion.

You will need to suit the horse to the level of the person you are buying for. I would not suggest a horse of limited experience for a beginner. The child should be able to learn from a horse that is not being trained at the same time. It is too hard on the child, and not fair on the horse. It’s not the end of the story if this is the situation, but will defiantly increase the time that it takes them to become a team, and that is what they will need to be.

I think that you should try to suit the horse to the size of the child that will be riding it. Smaller is not necessarily the way to go, as they can be outgrown in a year or so, but too big and it looks ungamely. And a lot further to fall.

You know your budget better than me, so try to stay within that budget when you are buying the horse. We have paid big bickies for duds and paid next to nothing for horses that turned out to be exceptional animals.

A common mistake the beginners make is to think that once they have bought the horse that they can sit back and not be involved. If that is you then think again.

One thing that a lot of beginner parents don’t do is think of the ongoing expenses, it both time and money. The child will need a helmet, boots and riding gear.

The helmet and boots will need to replaced every year or so, if the rider is growing. The tack will have to fit both the horse and the rider as well, and once again if the rider is growing then every year or so the tack will need to be replaced as well.

Have you somewhere to stable the horse? If not there are heaps of options here, but rest assured there is no cheap way.

How about feed for the horse? Will that be part of the agistment or will you spend time and money there to?

Enough with that, it’s a great hobby, sport etc, and it would be a shame to spoil it by getting the wrong horse, or not being prepared when you get the horse.

If the child has some experience than that opens up your options. There is the internet. Some great buys available there. However don’t forget the cost of transport. Please, from someone who has been hurt this way, cover your purchase with insurance while the horse is being transported.

This advise will be added to over time. Hope it is of help.

By Don Thompson. Co-owner of australasianhorsesales.com.au
And partner of Bildarbipark